Retired NYPD Sergeant Convicted Along with Two Others in New Jersey Manhunt of Family on behalf of Chinese Government
Michael McMahon, Zhu Yong and Zheng Kongying were all convicted in Brooklyn Federal Courtx-NYPD Cop McMahon of acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
Three people have been convicted of extorting a family in New Jersey on behalf of the Chinese government.
Michael McMahon, a retired NYPD sergeant, Zhu Yong and Zheng Kongying, both Chinese nationals, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to stalking and related conspiracy charges.
Young and McMahon were also convicted of acting as unregistered foreign agents, and Young was convicted of a second conspiracy charge.
Each of the men played a role in Operation Fox Hunt — a campaign the Justice Department says is part of the Communist Party’s push to control Chinese citizens around the world.
All three worked to track down dissidents who had fled China and intimidate them into returning.
Michael McMahon (pictured), a retired NYPD sergeant, Zhu Yong and Zheng Congying pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to stalking and related conspiracy charges.
Young (right) and McMahon were also convicted of acting as unregistered foreign agents. Zheng Kongying (left) gives a thumbs-up outside the court
The Justice Department was the first to prosecute the operation, with charges against three people announced in 2020.
Xu Jin, a former Chinese government official who immigrated to the United States a decade ago, was targeted in a plot orchestrated by government officials.
Communication between the men began in 2016 when Young contacted McMahon, who worked as a private investigator.
McMahon’s lawyer claimed he believed Young was working for a private company seeking to recover money.
He then conducted surveillance for five days over six months in 2016 and 2017 as well as discovered records of Jean’s whereabouts.
The former policeman also met with Yong’s colleague Hu Ji – a police officer from the Public Security Bureau in Wuhan, China.
The three met in October 2016 at a Panera Bread restaurant, with a photo showing McMahon smiling and putting his arm around Young.
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